Only one promoted started better
© Imago
The promoters in the Premier League had no chance of two seasons in a row. Whether FC Burnley, Luton Town, Sheffield United, Leicester City, Ipswich Town or FC Southampton: Six attempts, clearly failed six times. That should change in the new season in the interests of the competition and the greatest hope arouses AFC Sunderland. The focus is particularly on newcomer Granit Xhaka (33).
“The first signs are promising,” says Benjamin Littlemore, Content Manager UK at the transfer market. “Sunderland is on the road to success.” What is meant is that the Black Cats have put the second best start to the season in the Premier League. After six games there are eleven points, only West Ham United was better 20 years ago with 13 points. Sunderland carried out a change in summer.
“The team is practically completely new. Nobody really expected Sunderland last season, so the squad was not prepared for the Premier League,” explains Littlemore. So it is hardly surprising that the club took money from the port city in northeastern England – a lot of money. Almost 188 million euros flowed into more than a dozen new players. A promoted recent in a transfer period never previously invested, Nottingham’s record from the 2022/23 season of almost 200 million euros also wobbles in winter.
Forest was also the youngest opponent who felt the surprising early form of the promoted. In the 1-0 victory at the Europa League participant, whose squad value is almost twice as high as Sunderlands, there were seven new additions in the Black Cats Plus Enzo Le Fée starting eleven, which was firmly committed after a loan. Although Nottingham had more of the game and also radiated more goal, it was in the end two new additions that had Sunderland cheered.
In the 38th minute, the ex-Leverkusener Xhaka put out on the former Herthan defender Omar Alderete (28) with a free kick. “Nottingham was better, but we had a clear plan and an outstanding mentality,” explained Xhaka, who gave himself a gifts for his 33rd birthday on Saturday. The Swiss received the captain’s armband directly from coach Régis Le Bris after his obligation and seems to be the perfect piece of the puzzle for the team.
Sunderland newcomer Xhaka celebrated as the best transfer
Neither Alexander Isak (26) nor Florian Wirtz (22), Hugo Ekitiké (23) or Viktor Gyökeres (27): In England, Xhaka is celebrated as the best transfer of summer. The veteran organizes new team from the midfield center of Sunderland, convinced with its pass rate and duel strength and already contributed three templates. He can also rely on next man Noah Sadiki (20), who takes on part of the running work for him.
“He is the new addition of the season so far,” wrote about “Sky Sports” journalist Adam Bate. Xhaka can vary and dictate the game pace almost arbitrarily. His leadership qualities would make other players better. “You have committed many talented young players, but for me Granit Xhaka is the most important new addition,” says Littlemore. “He was immediately appointed captain and the ambition, the drive and experience of the Swiss international contributed significantly to the good start of the season of Black Cats.”
An opinion that also shares coach Le Bris: “He is very good on the ball, he is really clever, he knows how to master different situations in real time, and he is very important because of his leadership qualities. I think he is a future coach. We have to use it. He is very important for a young team like ours.” Xhaka once again seems to move borders in a team. Just like two years ago as a new addition to Bayer Leverkusen, when the Werkself not only became a master, but also a Doubles winner and moved into the Europa League final.
But Xhaka has not only arrived quickly within the team, the Swiss is also high in the fans. When the Sunderland classic “Wise Men Say” sounded after the second home game against FC Brentford (2-1), Xhaka sang loudly-much more identification after such a short time is hardly possible for the fans. The veteran also embodies what the supporters expect: cohesion, dedication and struggle.
Sunderland relies on cohesion, dedication and struggle
The workers’ city of Sunderland is struggling with Hohenr unemployment and poverty. After the decline of the shipyards and the end of the mines, the AFC rose to the heart of the region, which was not least the Netflix documentary “Sunderland ‘Til I the” worldwide. It is the values that coach Le Bris are important. The Frenchman, who took over in the summer of 2024 and scored an average of 1.62 points in 58 games, praised the cohesion and willingness of his team to fight until the end. Sunderland fell behind three times in the Premier League, twice the Black Cats still took points.
If you are not fully committed to the team, you have no place in the squad.
“This is very important. The cohesion is indispensable. If you are not fully committed to the team, you still have no space in the squad. I think we have a very good reinforcement with the new players because your personalities fit our team very well. They work hard, even if they are sitting on the bench, they can be substituted and then give the team to help the team again,” he said again, “he said,” he said, ” After the success in Nottingham.
The fact that Sunderland does not impress with hurray football on the other hand is almost obvious. Le Bris relies on game control, after six games there is just a goal difference of 7: 4. The 49-year-old value stability and continuity. When left-back Reinildo Mandava (31) was reduced for the Nottingham game and the possibility of a chain of three was discussed, Le Bris remained in his preferred variant and preferred to rely on Arthur Masuaku (31), which was hardly used beforehand. The established defense duo in the center of Alderete and ex-Bundesliga professional Nordi Mukiele (27) should not be changed-the right choice, as proved in the end.
“After only six games, Sunderland is already only one point behind the score that Southampton has reached throughout the last season. I think they have everything to avoid the descent that is good for the Premier League,” says TM expert Littlemore. On Saturday (4 p.m.), Sunderland plans to take the next points on the way to the goal of relegation at the Manchester United, which continues. Should three points jump out, the Black Cats with West Ham would take a promoted start to the season with the best start to the season.
“It is difficult to win games in this league. The basics that we create together are now clear to all boys. Even if we work like this, we won’t win all games. That was the case in Burnley,” emphasized Le Bris. The Black Cats lost the only game to date against the co -climber (0: 2). “But we played well, we played at Crystal Palace undecided and we played the same game here (Nottingham, D Red.). We want to gradually improve, for example, deal with the ball better. But we are difficult to beat.”
